21Discretionary refusal to record transfer

21 Discretionary refusal to record transfer

(1) The Safety Director may refuse to record the transfer of registration of a vessel if the Safety Director—

(a) is satisfied that the requirements of the Act and these Regulations relating to the transfer of the registration have not been complied with; or

(b) reasonably believes the ownership, possession, control or description of the vessel as recorded in the register is uncertain.

(2) If the Safety Director intends to refuse to record the transfer of registration of a vessel under subregulation (1), the Safety Director must give the applicant for transfer written notice of that intention.

(3) A written notice under subregulation (2) must—

(a) state the grounds on which the Safety Director intends to refuse to record the transfer of registration; and

(b) state that the applicant has 28 days from the date of the notice to address those grounds.

(4) If the applicant fails to address, to the satisfaction of the Safety Director, the grounds stated in a written notice under subregulation (2) within the specified 28 days, the Safety Director may refuse to record the transfer of registration in accordance with subregulation (1).